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Tax office lobbies may open by May 16

The Wichita County Tax Office said in the interest of public health and safety, the lobby will remain closed for walk-in traffic for the tax office and motor vehicle services.(Photo: Contributed graphic)

The Wichita County Tax Office said in the interest of public health and safety, the lobby will remain closed for walk-in traffic for the tax office and motor vehicle services.

Tax Assessor/Collector Tommy Smyth said the ergonomics of the lobby and counter service area is not in compliance with the social-distancing requirements.

Staffing levels and hours of operation have been amended to follow shelter-in-place orders, Smyth said.

Across the state, Smyth said there are 236 county offices that are closed to the public, four counties that closed completely, and 13 counties that maintained normal business operations.

Between property tax accounts, vehicle registration renewals and other business, Smyth said his staff processes approximately 950 transactions every day.

Given those figures, he said it is paramount that his office maintains the most sterile environment possible for operations to continue unaffected.

Smyth said, thankfully, none of his staff or the public have been compromised in the any of the four countywide lobbies.

“Our staff have stayed on task and have met the operational responsibilities that we have to the public. And we are very proud of our citizens, our dealers and our taxing entities who have overwhelmingly responded in a very favorable fashion with the business model we have built to keep a baseline of our services available by some (other means) than by walking into our lobbies,” Smyth said.

Staff in the property tax and motor vehicle departments continue to process mail and online payments.

Email is constantly monitored and answered in a timely manner. The state has suspended most motor vehicle registration and title work during this time.

“We have made it a priority to keep open lines of communications with our citizens as to what we are doing operationally. We have done our very best to let the public know what we are doing and most importantly why we are doing it,” Smyth said.

Gov. Greg Abbott waived the requirement for renewal of vehicle registration in March and extended the deadline to renew registration or application for a title from 60 days after the disaster declaration is lifted.

If you have already obtained a passing vehicle inspection, you may renew your registration online at https://renew.txdmv.gov/.

County residents can use the drop box to send payments located inside the Scott Street entrance at the downtown annex, or residents can renew by mail.

Individuals can also renew motor vehicle registrations at any one of four area United and Market Street locations. Services at these stores if for motor vehicle registration only and is not for title work or property taxes.

Smyth said they look forward to opening the county lobbies soon, but said it will be accomplished in a safe and prudent fashion.

He said they look forward to a tentative opening date of May 16.

That date, Smyth said also coincidences with possible end of the suspension of motor vehicle services, as ordered by the governor.

When the lobbies do open to walk-in traffic, Smyth said they may spread services over certain days and within specific hours to avoid overcrowding.

This entire matter has been nothing short of a moving target and two things have made it work; a very understandable public and a great staff that we could not be prouder of,” said Smyth.

Claire Kowalick, a senior journalist for the Times Record News, covers local government, military and MSU Texas. If you have a news tip, contact Claire at ckowalick@gannett.com.